Online Travel Aggregators under scanner; Govt forms guidelines

New Delhi, Dec 8: The Ministry of Tourism have formulated the guidelines for approval /re-approval of Online Travel Aggregators (OTA’s), aimed at ensuring that there are adequate safeguards against deficiency of service, alternate arrangements if needed and punitive deterrence.

It is a voluntary scheme open to bonafide online travel aggregators to bring them on a common platform in the organized sector and the guidelines will be rolled out online by the end of December, 2018.

As per the guidelines, the recognition as an approved OTA shall be granted by the Ministry of Tourism for five years, based on the Inspection Report / Recommendations of a Committee comprising the concerned Regional Director (RD), a representative of FHRAI, and a representative of IATO, and approval of Competent Authority (Chairman, HRACC).

The guidelines say that the re-approval, thereafter, shall be granted for five years after inspection conducted by a Committee of the same constitution, based upon an application, complete and free from all deficiencies, made by OTA along with the requisite fee / documents on the online platform, at least a clear 6 months prior to the expiry of the previous approval.

In case the application complete in all respect and free from all deficiencies is not received at least a clear 6 months prior to the expiry of the previous approval, it will be treated as a case for fresh approval.

The documents received from applicants after scrutiny in all respects would be acknowledged online. The inspection for first approval / re-approval shall be conducted by the Inspection Team within a period of forty working days from the receipt of complete and deficiency-free application and confirmation of payment of fees by Pay and Accounts Office, Ministry of Tourism.

It shall be mandatory for an approved OTA to prominently display the Certificate of approval given by the Ministry in the office premises by displaying it in a photo frame so that it is visible to a potential tourist and also under a prominent link on the home page of its main website/ online portal.

The decision of Ministry of Tourism in the matter of approval/ re-approval shall be final.

However, the Ministry may at their discretion refuse to re-approve any firm or withdraw / withhold at any time approval/ re-approval already granted.

Before such a decision is taken, necessary Show Cause Notice would invariably be issued and the reply considered on merit. This would be done after careful consideration. Circumstances in which withdrawal is effected would also be indicated.

The scheme for approval / re-approval of OTAs will be rolled out on the online platform and all applications and fee payment will have to be made on the online platform.

The scheme is expected to set standards towards accreditation and add value to the dependability and reliability to the aggregators in the online space operating in the organized tourism sector.

In the recent past, several Online Travel Aggregators (OTA) who are aggregating rooms in the various accommodation segments have emerged. The B and B / Homestay segment has always suffered from inadequate marketing owing to the small scale of business. The emergence of OTAs can galvanise this segment and emerge as a game changer.

AnOnline Travel Aggregator (OTA) is an intermediary / agent selling travel products and services such as the airlines, car rental, cruise lines, Hotels / Accommodation, railways and vacation packages on behalf of suppliers using internet as a medium. They establish an online market place and earn profits on the discounts commonly referred to as commission offered by the suppliers.

There are several players in the OTA segment operating now without any accreditation / validation. One of the risks of letting the market operate unhindered is that unscrupulous players can vitiate the entire market through unethical trade practices. In order to engage with the OTAs constructively, it is imperative that a system is put in place with qualitative benchmarks to accredit them. The paramount concern would be the assurance of quality of service delivery for the customer by the OTA. (UNI)